ADDISON RAE BRINGS POP PERFECTION TO SYDNEY

Image: Gabrielle Clement

Earlier tonight, Addison Rae turned the Enmore Theatre into a full-blown day-glo dreamscape during the Sydney stop of The Addison Tour. In what felt like equal parts pop concert, dance spectacle, and euphoric rave, it’s clear why Rae has cemented herself as one of pop musics most exciting contemporary acts.

From the moment the house lights dimmed, the production snapped into motion: vibrant washes of neon pink, aqua, and violet flooded the room, shifting with each mood change, each bass drop, each breath of the show. At times, the whole venue felt suspended inside a pulsating prism, the lighting design hitting that delicious sweet spot between theatrical polish and club-night chaos.

Anchoring the stage was the tours signature set piece: the giant metallic gates stamped with an “A.” They opened in a slow, cinematic sweep as Rae made her entrance, electric with anticipation, and later closed at the show’s end like the final chapter of a pop fairytale being sealed shut. The motif worked; iconic, a bit tongue-in-cheek, totally Addison Rae. A chandelier hung above the stage, a moving staircase spun through pop star around, serving as remnants of a grand mansion

But the real engine of the night was the choreography. Rae and her troupe of dancers delivered a performance so tight it could’ve been measured in millimetres. Every song was shaped around movement; sharp hits, fluid transitions, and clever formations that kept the stage alive even during softer moments. Rae’s own dancing was confident and fully committed, radiating the glow that her fans know and love.

And oh, the fans. Sydney showed up loud, singing every lyric, screaming every time Rae stepped even an inch closer to the edge of the stage. The Enmore was a sea of pink wigs, glitter, and outfits inspired by the visual identity of her album: metallic aquas, glossy lip-balm shine, and playful pop-princess silhouettes. At points, the audience energy nearly overpowered the speakers. Rae’s rapport with the crowd was genuinely sweet. She invited three lucky fans on stage during her remix of Charli XCX’s von dutch - a tour tradition - and spent time reading the handmade signs. 

Rae had a knack for leading into song with the opening lyric or a sly line from the next track, almost teasing it, sending the audience into frantic shrieks as they guessed what was coming. She thanked fans repeatedly, clearly moved by the energy, and at one point paused just to take in the sea of signs, sparkles, and costumes made in her honour. One fan seated upstairs was holding a confessional sign: “I crashed my car to Diet Pepsi.” 

The setlist was a parade of fan favourites, each greeted with near-feral enthusiasm. Fame Is A Gun exploded with streaked lighting and an almost feverish crowd chant; Summer Forever transformed the theatre into a neon holiday postcard; In The Rain shimmered through dreamy blues as the choreography softened into something hypnotic; Aquamarine was a highlight - cool, glossy, and totally immersive. Headphones On brought out some of the night’s most razor-sharp dancing, whilst Obsessed triggered the loudest screams, the entire floor practically vibrating under the weight of everyone jumping. When Diet Pepsi kicked in, the room erupted and out poured bright, bubbly, and pure pop sugar. 

The Addison Tour takes its influence from her predecessors, with references to Britney Spears and Madonna, but Rae creates her own archetype that is fuelled by fantasy. She herself tells the crowd, “every time I’m up on this stage, I think I’m dreaming… but I’m not, huh?” By the time those giant “A” gates swung shut at the end, the Enmore Theatre was glowing with the after-rush of a pop star in her element and a fanbase that refused to let the night end quietly.

Addison Rae will return to Australia in January to perform at Wildlands in Brisbane and Perth.